Mick Galwey chuckles at the mention of his former sporting life. He has experienced enough adventures in rugby to fill at least two books but the fact remains, he is one of the most recent Kerry football players to have battled against Meath in the All-Ireland championship.

"I was 19," he says of his second half introduction to that All-Ireland semi-final of 1986, which Kerry won with a late burst.

"The Bomber got injured and I think things were going fairly well for us at the time. For me, it was just a brilliant experience to get out onto Croke Park for such an occasion alongside players of that calibre."

Back then, Mick O'Dwyer was grooming the young Galwey for the future, maybe as a rangy heir to Eoin Liston or as a midfield bulwark. At that point, Galwey was following the natural path for all young Kerry footballers, wearing the green and gold.

"I initially took up rugby to supplement football training in the winter. Football was the focus for me at minor and under-21 level - we lost an All-Ireland under-21 final in 1987 so it wasn't really until the following year, when I got on the Munster rugby side that the dilemma arose."

Galwey played his last championship game with Kerry in 1989, having become ever more engrossed in club and international rugby.

"The problem was that I was never around for league games in the winter and it was difficult to establish a presence there. Ultimately, it came down to a choice and I am happy to think I made the correct one as I am still playing rugby and earning a living from it."

But he still savours the Kerry memories and admits he was surprised that the great run - 1986 marked yet another Kerry three in a row - was followed by a sustained barren period.

"Getting an All-Ireland medal that year was brilliant for me, as was being associated with the team. There was never any sense that Kerry were going to dissolve or anything after that. After failing in the five-in-a-row bid in 1982, there was a feeling that maybe we would try and go on for more after '86. But other teams came through, I suppose, including Cork, and Kerry found it hard to get going again."

Galwey has kept a keen eye on Kerry over the past decade and although he was in Wales last night with Munster, he will stop off in Croke Park tomorrow before haring down to Limerick to meet up with the Irish squad.

"I think it is going to be a fantastic encounter, a showcase for probably the two most consistent teams in the game right now. Kerry have so many lads going well - Darragh ╙ SΘ is having a fine season, Johnny Crowley, obviously, the likes of Seamus Moynihan and Mike Frank Russell. Then you can name an equal number of great performers from Meath - Geraghty and Murphy are having fine seasons and John McDermott is coming back well. Neither side has notable weaknesses and it really will come down to on the day."

He does feel that Gaelic football has changed considerably since he last kicked a ball. "The pressure is the big thing. When I was coming through, it seemed as if there were only two teams that consistently challenged for All-Irelands, Kerry and Dublin. Offaly's breakthrough in 1982 was such a surprise in that context. But since that time, more and more teams have pushed through and with this new system, there is a sense that nearly all counties have a genuine shout. And that's a great thing. But it also means the pressure on teams is much higher.

"Maybe I got out at the right time."